Family of Kentucky football player who died after game injury ‘absolutely heartbroken’
The Pulaski County High School football player who died Monday after sustaining a head injury in a game on March 31 attended pre-school in Lexington, his former teacher said.
“The Dodson family holds a very special place in our hearts,” said Lisa Henson Lear, who taught Andrew Dodson at Beginnings, a small private Christian program. “We aren’t just educators. We are family and our hearts are broken.”
Andrew grew up in Lexington and Somerset, according to his obituary.
“Andrew’s life is not defined by its brevity or the circumstances of his passing but by its fullness. So much life was packed into seventeen years,” the obituary read.
As his funeral arrangements were set, Dodson’s family issued a statement Tuesday about his death.
“We are absolutely heartbroken. Andrew was full of life and love. He loved his family. He loved his friends, he loved football, but above all he loved his Savior,” the statement said, in part.
The family thanked people for an outpouring of love.
Andrew loved to travel and visit new places, his obituary said. In addition to most of the U.S., he visited countries that included Canada, Mexico, several Caribbean nations, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and, his favorite, Israel.
Andrew was “Mr. School Spirit,” according to his obituary. At Shopville Elementary, he was an academic team member, competed in basketball and football, and was on the archery team that won state and national championships. At Northern Middle School, he helped bring several more archery titles to Pulaski County and competed in golf and soccer. In Northern’s choir, he sang at events, including the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival and Governor’s Inauguration. He was a Kentucky All-State Middle School Choir singer.
At Pulaski County High School, in addition to playing golf and tennis, he was a rising senior on the football team. He was in several clubs and part of the Maroon Sports Network.
Andrew was baptized in the Jordan River and served in the ministry at High Street Baptist Church in Somerset.
The Andrew Dodson Pulaski County Youth Development Fund has been created to help Pulaski County youth enjoy experiences that Andrew had. Tax deductible donations marked “the Andrew Dodson fund” can be be made to High Street Baptist Church. Checks may be submitted to High Street Baptist Church, 102 Bourne Ave., Somerset. An online giving portal is also available.
WYMT reported Pulaski County Schools officials said coaches and counselors will be available for students when they return from Spring Break next week.
In an obituary, Somerset Undertaking Company said Andrew died at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset.
Visitation will be at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset on Thursday from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., and again on Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. at the Center.
Andrew’s father Alan Dodson told the Herald-Leader Sunday that Andrew, wearing a helmet, was running the ball in the Pulaski County varsity football spring Maroon and White game when he was tackled by a teammate.
It was not a violent hit or helmet-to-helmet. It was a simple, clean tackle,” Dodson previously said, noting Andrew was wearing a helmet. “His head hit the turf, and Andrew suffered blunt-force trauma to the brain.”
